Andre Rison out of jail after making $10,000 child support payment

Jet, Jan 24, 2005

Ex-NFL star Andre Rison recently was released from jail after paying $10,000 in child support He spent almost a month behind bars for failing to pay child support for more than two years.

Rison owed $127,000 to Raycoa Handley, the mother of his 18-year-old and 16-year-old sons. The 37-year-old player requested his release saying he had an opportunity to play for an Arena Football League team.

Rison was sentenced to jail on Dec. 8, 2004. Handley contended he hadn't paid his $3,500-a-month child support since August 2002. Judge Cynthia Becket said Rison could leave jail if he made the $10,000 payment. The judge also stipulated that if Rison received a signing bonus from his new team, half would go to Handley, said Randall Kessler, Handley's attorney.

A five-time Pro Bowl selection, Rison spent 12 seasons in the NFL with Indianapolis, Atlanta, Cleveland, Jacksonville, Green Bay, Kansas City and Oakland.

He last played in the NFL in 2000 with Oakland. He was suspended for four games in 2001 for a repeat violation of the league's substance abuse policy and was out of football until August, when he joined the Toronto Argonauts and played five games with the CFL team.